PHILADELPHIA – It’s time. If it’s really “Team First,” Lou Lamoriello should bury the hatchet and bring back the guy who once buried 76 biscuits.

It worked 20 years ago, back in 1986. Rangers coach Ted “Darth” Sator banished Pierre Larouche to the Flyers’ (!) Hershey farm, and had to eat humble pie to bring him back in the final weeks of the season to save a team dying for goals. The Rangers went to the semis in that season that looked lost before Larouche returned.

Outscored 19-7 in dropping four of five, the Devils’ 2006 playoff berth is similarly slipping away because their offense has vanished. Last night’s 2-1 loss to the Flyers was the second of 11 against teams now holding playoff berths in their final 15, and the Devils’ second straight such loss.

The trade deadline is over, and Alexander Mogilny still languishes while receiving his $3.5 million salary in Albany, dispatched there in January. Whatever Lamoriello said about not bringing him back, he should eat those words. It’s time to try anything.

Lamoriello made a drastic change last night, but breaking up his top line by separating Patrik Elias from Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta didn’t work the necessary wonders. Lamoriello needs more offensive help, and should remember that when he demoted Mogilny, now 37, he was the Devils’ third-leading scorer.

Whether the separation was nasty or not, the Devils need more offensive players, and Mogilny still ranks tied for eighth on the team in this season’s scoring at 12-13-25 in 35 games, and has scored 474 goals in his career. He’s been in and out of the lineup in Albany, but a recall, which would require re-entry waivers and cap room, might spark him and the team. The risk is that if claimed, the Devils would have to pay half next year’s salary, which would count against their cap.

For the ninth time in 11 games, the Devils were held to two goals or less. Lamoriello, however, saw signs.

“I was pleased. That was our best game over the last couple of weeks once we got past the first couple of minutes,” Lamoriello said. “The game could have gone either way.”

But the offense failed again. The Flyers, who visit the Garden tonight, were buoyed by Peter Forsberg’s return from a knee injury and moved within two points of the Rangers atop the Atlantic Division with a second straight victory.

Gionta, who scored the Devils’ previous goal in Pittsburgh on Thursday, ended a drought of 126:29 at 3:55 of the third. Carrying up right wing, Gionta stick-handled the puck into the skates of Derian Hatcher and snapped his 37th under Niittymaki. But they failed to find another.

“We can’t expect to get in playing like this and not scoring goals,” Jamie Langenbrunner said.

Their cushion has shrunk and they need some help. They may already have some if they’ll give it a try.